Adjustable insulated receptacle for beverage containers

ABSTRACT

An adjustable insulated receptacle comprising an upstanding wall that surrounds and defines a cavity of the receptacle which is sized and shaped to receive a beverage container. The receptacle further includes a base closing a lower end of the cavity, a rim surrounding an upper end of the cavity, and a vertical slot that is contiguous with the rim, has a lowermost extent adjacent the base, and has opposing edges between the rim and the lowermost extent. The slot is sized and shaped to receive a handle of the beverage container that protrudes from the cavity. The receptacle further includes a means for releasably securing the edges of the slot relative to each other to maintain a width of the slot and, in turn, an internal diameter of the cavity. The securing means comprises a strap that bridges the slot.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/466,469, filed Mar. 3, 2017, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to beverage containers and their use.

Beverage container holders have been useful for insulating a container from a user's hand and for keeping hot beverages hot and cold beverages cold. Many kinds of beverage container holders exists, however, existing holders have certain shortcomings. For example, existing holders do not provide for an adjustable insulated holder that fits securely around a beverage and thus the beverage may fall out of a user's hand. Existing holders that do not provide a secure fit around a beverage also decrease the ability of the holder to insulate the beverage container. Further, existing holders do not provide stability when the beverage is placed on a surface.

In view of the above, it can be appreciated that there are certain problems, shortcomings, or disadvantages associated with the prior art, and that it would be desirable if an improved receptacle for beverage containers was available that was capable of the benefit of or problem solved by the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an adjustable insulated receptacle particularly suitable for use with beverage cups, including handled cups such as coffee and tea cups.

According to one aspect of the invention, the adjustable insulated receptacle comprises an upstanding wall that surrounds and defines a cavity of the receptacle which is sized and shaped to receive a beverage container. The receptacle further includes a base closing a lower end of the cavity, a rim surrounding an upper end of the cavity, and a vertical slot that is contiguous with the rim, has a lowermost extent adjacent the base, and has opposing edges between the rim and the lowermost extent. The slot is sized and shaped to receive a handle of the beverage container that protrudes from the cavity. The receptacle further includes means for releasably securing the edges of the slot relative to each other to maintain a width of the slot and, in turn, an internal diameter of the cavity. The securing means comprises a strap that bridges the slot.

Technical aspects of the receptacle described above preferably include its ability to provide a secure protective thermal wrap around a beverage container equipped with a handle. The receptacle has an adjustable circumference that enables it to be utilized with containers having a range of sizes (diameters and heights). In addition, the receptacle is able to accommodate a variety of handles commonly found on beverage containers. Such a handle radially projecting from a container is able to protrude through the slot in the receptacle. The strap is then able to secure the container in the receptacle as a result of being threaded through an opening in the handle.

Other aspects and advantages of this invention will be appreciated from the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an adjustable insulated receptacle in accordance with a nonlimiting embodiment of this invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the adjustable insulated receptacle of FIG. 1 with a closure strap thereof in an open position.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are top and side views, respectively, of the receptacle of FIGS. 1 and 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 through 4 represent a nonlimiting embodiment of an adjustable insulated receptacle 10 within the scope of the invention. To facilitate the description provided below of the embodiment represented in the drawings, relative terms, including but not limited to, “vertical,” “horizontal,” “circumferential,” “upper,” “lower,” “above,” “below,” “right,” “left,” etc., may be used in reference to the orientation of the receptacle 10 as represented in the drawings as well as its orientation during use with a beverage container. All such relative terms are intended to indicate the construction, installation and use of the invention and therefore help to define the scope of the invention.

The receptacle 10 has a cavity 12 configured to receive a beverage container (not shown), and is particularly configured to accommodate a beverage cup having a handle, for example, a coffee or tea cup. For this reason, the wall 14 is tubular-shaped and the cavity 12 preferably has a cylindrical shape, though other shapes are also within the scope of the invention, for example, cavities with outwardly tapering frustoconical shapes. The receptacle 10 comprises an upstanding wall 14 that surrounds the cavity 12. A base 16 closes the lower end of the cavity 12, and a rim 18 defines the uppermost extent of the cavity 12 and wall 14 through which a container can be placed in the cavity 12.

Suitable dimensions for the cavity 12 include a diameter of about three to four inches and a depth (height) of about three to four inches, though lesser and greater dimensions are foreseeable depending on the particular dimensions of the beverage container intended to be received in the cavity 12. The wall 14 and base 16 can be formed of various materials and may be separately fabricated and assembled or fabricated as an integral one-piece unit to yield the construction shown in the drawings. Particularly notable but nonlimiting materials include closed-cell foam and corrugated cardboard. A suitable thickness for the wall 14 and base 16 is about 0.25 inch, though lesser and greater thicknesses are foreseeable.

The wall 14 of the receptacle 10 can be seen to have a slot 20 that is vertically oriented, in other words, parallel to the axis of the cavity 12 and wall 14. The slot 20 preferably terminates above the base 16, for example one-half to one inch from the bottom of the receptacle 10 defined by the base 16. The slot 20 defines an outwardly tapering edge 22 at its uppermost extent contiguous with the rim 18, and an arcuate lowermost extent 24 adjacent the base 16. The slot 20 is sized and shaped to accommodate a variety of handles commonly provided on coffee and tea cups. In particular, the handle of a cup placed in the cavity 12 preferably protrudes from the cavity 12 through the slot 20. For this purpose, the slot 20 preferably has a width of about one-half to one inch in the circumferential direction of the wall 14, though lesser and greater widths are foreseeable. The tapering edge 22 of the slot 20 facilitates placement of the handle in the slot 20 when placing a beverage container in the cavity 12, and thereafter provides better access to the handle to facilitate gripping the handle when carrying the beverage container. The arcuate lowermost extent 24 of the slot 20 serves to reduce stress concentrations, thereby inhibiting the formation of cracks and tears in the wall 14 below the lowermost extent 24 of the slot 20.

The receptacle 10 includes means for releasably securing opposing edges 26 of the slot 20 relative to each other to maintain the width of the slot 20 and, in turn, establish and maintain an internal diameter of the cavity 12. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the securing means comprises complementary hook-and-loop (e.g., Velcro®) members 30 and 32, one of which serves as a closure strap 32 for releasably securing the opposing edges 26 of the slot 20. In particular, a “loop” member 30 is shown located adjacent the righthand edge 26 of the slot 20 on the outer surface of the wall 14, and a “hook” strap 32 bridges the slot 20 to simultaneously engage both the loop member 30 such that the end 36 of the strap 32 is releasably secured to the loop member 30. The width of the slot 20 and, in turn, the internal diameter of the cavity 12, can be adjusted by releasing the strap 32 from the loop member 30, and then either increasing or decreasing the width of the slot 20 prior to re-engaging the loop member 30 with the strap 32. The strap 32 is shown as having a width (e.g., about one-half inch) that is narrower than the loop member 30 and as having a length that extends beyond the edge of the loop member 30 in the circumferential direction to facilitate gripping and disengaging the strap 32 from the loop member 30. The end of the strap 32 opposite the loop member 30 (e.g., the lefthand end 34 in the drawings) is represented as being permanently attached to the wall 14 of the receptacle 10, for example, with stitches 38, so that only the end 36 of the strap 32 (e.g., the righthand end 36 in the drawings) can be completely disengaged or released from the loop member 30. The “releasable” end 36 of the strap 32 is represented as tapered to further facilitate gripping and lifting the strap 32 from the loop member 30.

The vertical (axial) location of the strap 32 preferably coincides with an opening typically present or otherwise formed by the handle of a beverage container, such as a coffee or tea cup. For this purpose, the strap 32 is depicted as located approximately midway along the vertical length of the slot 20. Such a location for the strap 32 enables the container to be secured in the receptacle 10 by threading a free end (e.g., the righthand end 36 in the drawings) of the strap 32 through the handle opening prior to securing the end 36 to the loop member 30.

By fabricating its wall 14 and base 16 from a suitable thermal insulating material, the temperature of a beverage contained in a coffee or tea cup placed in the receptacle 10 can be better maintained. The receptacle 10 permits a user to grip the handle of a cup that protrudes through the slot 20 while the cup remains secure within the cavity 12 of the receptacle 10. The adjustable circumference of the receptacle 10 effected by the slot 20 and strap 32 enables its use with cups having a range of sizes (diameters and heights) and having a variety of handles that may vary in size and position.

While the invention has been described in terms of a particular embodiment, it should be apparent that alternatives could be adopted by one skilled in the art. For example, the receptacle 10 and its components could differ in appearance and construction from the embodiment described herein and shown in the drawings, functions of certain components of the receptacle 10 could be performed by components of different construction but capable of a similar (though not necessarily equivalent) function, and appropriate materials could be substituted for those noted. In addition, the invention encompasses additional or alternative embodiments in which one or more features or aspects of the disclosed embodiment could be eliminated. Accordingly, it should be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited to any embodiment described herein or illustrated in the drawings. It should also be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed above are for the purpose of describing the disclosed and illustrated embodiment and do not necessarily serve as limitations to the scope of the invention. Finally, while the appended claims recite certain aspects believed to be associated with the invention, they do not necessarily serve as limitations to the scope of the invention. 

1. An adjustable insulated receptacle configured to receive a beverage container, the receptacle comprising: an upstanding wall that surrounds and defines a cavity of the receptacle, the cavity being is sized and shaped to receive the beverage container; a base closing a lower end of the cavity; a rim surrounding an upper end of the cavity; a vertical slot that is contiguous with the rim, has a lowermost extent adjacent the base, and has opposing edges between the rim and the lowermost extent, the slot being sized and shaped to receive a handle of the beverage container that protrudes from the cavity; and means for releasably securing the edges of the slot relative to each other to maintain a width of the slot and, in turn, an internal diameter of the cavity, the securing means comprising a strap that bridges the slot.
 2. The adjustable insulated receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the releasably securing means comprises complementary hook-and-loop fasteners on the strap and on at least one outer surface of the wall.
 3. The adjustable insulated receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the strap is located approximately midway along a vertical length of the slot.
 4. The adjustable insulated receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the slot defines an outwardly tapering edge at an uppermost extent thereof that is contiguous with the rim.
 5. The adjustable insulated receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the lowermost extent of the slot is arcuate in shape.
 6. The adjustable insulated receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the lowermost extent of the slot is about one-half to one inch from the base.
 7. The adjustable insulated receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the slot has a width of about one-half to one inch in a circumferential direction of the wall.
 8. The adjustable insulated receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the wall is tubular shaped and the cavity has a cylindrical shape.
 9. The adjustable insulated receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the cavity has a diameter of about three to four inches and a depth of about three to four inches.
 10. The adjustable insulated receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the wall and the base are separately fabricated and assembled together.
 11. The adjustable insulated receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the wall and the base are fabricated as an integral one-piece unit.
 12. The adjustable insulated receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the wall and the base are formed of a closed-cell foam.
 13. The adjustable insulated receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the wall and the base are formed of corrugated cardboard. 